November 2 - Sarga 36 of Sundara Kanda.
Sita feels quite confident that Hanuman is indeed Sri Rama's emissary and not an imposter.
Hanuman now produces the one item that will establish his veracity once and for all.
वानरोऽहं महाभागे दूतो रामस्य धीमतः ।
रामनामाङ्कितं चेदं पश्य देव्यङ्गुलीयकम् ॥
प्रत्ययार्थं तवानीतं तेन दत्तं महात्मना ।
समाश्वसिहि भद्रं ते क्षीणदःखफला ह्यसि ॥
"Oh blessed Devi, I am indeed the vanara emissary of the great lord Sri Rama. Kindly see this sacred signet ring engraved with Sri Rama's name and worn by him! Precisely to give you proof of my authenticity, I have brought this ring, specifically given to me by the great-souled Sri Rama! Please feel well and truly confident and may good befall you and all your sufferings evaporate!"
When Hanuman reverentially extracts the signet ring hidden and offers it to Sita, she is simply thrilled.
गृहीत्वा प्रेक्षमाणा सा भर्तुः करविभूषितम् ।
भर्तारमिव सम्प्राप्तं जानकी मुदिताभवत् ॥
"Taking from Hanuman that sacred ring that had adorned Sri Rama's hand before, Sita felt glad as if she had got her husband back and was touching him!"
Valmiki says her face with red-lotus-like eyes shone like the moon released from Rahu's eclipse. She even felt shy, holding her husband's ring. Delighted beyond measure, she said,
विक्रान्तस्त्वं समर्थस्त्वं प्राज्ञस्त्वं वानरोत्तम!
"Oh Hanuman, supreme among vanaras, indeed you are gloriously valorous, extremely capable, astute, and sagacious beyond compare!
शतयोजनविस्तीर्णः सागरो मकरालयः ।
विक्रमश्लाघनीयेन क्रमता गोष्पदीकृत: ॥
"I cannot commend you enough for your incredible act of crossing the crocodile-infested hundred yojana-stretch of the ocean as if it were a small puddle left by a cow's hoof!"
Sita says that Hanuman is no ordinary vanara at all, the simple proof being he has no fear of Ravana himself! No wonder Sri Rama has chosen him to be the emissary. Sita is indeed most glad to know Sri Rama and Lakshmana are doing well.
***
Sita now shoots a fusillade of questions to Hanuman about why Sri Rama has not yet come to rescue her.
Why has he not dried up the ocean and burnt down the world? No gods can impede Sri Rama and Lakshmana. Is it her ill-luck? Is Sri Rama depressed and helpless? Hope he knows the Sama-Dana-Bheda stratagem needed. Does he have good advisors? Hope he has not stopped praying to the gods for help. Has he forgotten Sita or lost his affection? Hope Sri Rama continues to get updates about the welfare of Kausalya, Sumitra, and Bharata.
Will Bharata send a mighty army to rescue Sita? Will Sugriva bring over his mighty vanara army? Hope Lakshmana will shoot a sky-full of mighty arrows to vanquish the rakshasas. Hope Sita will see soon Ravana's end.
न चास्य माता न पिता न चान्यः
स्नेहाद् विशिष्टोऽस्ति मया समो वा ।
तावद्ध्यहं दूत जिजीविषेयं
यावत् प्रवृत्तिं शृणुयां प्रियस्य ॥
"Oh Hanuman, Sri Rama's messenger! Know for certain that no one - not his father, not his mother, no one else, is dearer or even comparable to me in terms of Sri Rama's affection towards me. I shall therefore survive as long as it takes for me to get good news from Sri Rama."
***
Sita fell silent, perhaps not expecting much of a response. But Hanuman is Hanuman.
The mighty Hanuman placed his hands in obeisance over his head.
"Devi, Sri Rama does not know even now that you are here. That is the only reason he has not embarked on rescuing you. You may recall that Indra was in the same quandary when his queen Shachi was abducted, and he did not know where to look for her."
"Wait a while. Sri Rama will come with the immense army of Sugriva. He will dry up the abode of Varuna, the ocean, and scorch up Lanka and rid it of all rakshasas. Nobody- gods, demons, even Yama, will be able to stop Sri Rama.
"I cannot even begin to describe to you Sri Rama's sorrow of being separated from you. I hereby swear on all the great mountains, Malaya, Vindhya and so on (abode of vanaras), on all the fruits and roots of this earth (food of vanaras) that soon you will behold the lovely face of Sri Rama, with his bimba-fruit-like lips, beautiful eyes, lovely ear-rings, and the full-moon-like face. Sri Rama will be seated on Prasravana mountain in full glory.
"Do you know, Oh Devi Sita, Sri Rama has not touched meat or drink since your separation. He barely eats (that too is only one-fifth of the quantity of prescribed food) roots and fruits. He cannot sleep. He deliriously keeps repeating your name, "Oh Sita." Sri Rama is so distracted that he does not even wave off flies, mosquitoes, or creepy-crawlies when they come near. He sighs deeply whenever he sees a lovely flower or fruit and says, "alas, my darling Sita!"
***
Sita felt most distressed to hear of Sri Rama's condition. It was as if the bright autumnal moon had become covered by clouds.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
